The Bell Family- Noel Streatfeild

 

As a child I loved Noel Streatfeild's most famous work Ballet Shoes.  I had dreams of being a ballerina (which were never to materialise, although I did do a few dance exams) which were pretty much exclusively because of that book.  Yet for some reason I never read any more of Streatfeild's books, until now.

 

Vintage Classics published  this edition of The Bell Family this spring.  Originally a radio series in the 1950s, the Bell's are a typical post-war family struggling to make ends meet.  They have to 'make do and mend', utilise hand me down's from the wealthier side of their family and look for ways to bring in extra money.  There isn't much of a plot, but that really doesn't matter- it is very much character driven. Each of the children brings their own personality and charm to the book-Paul, the sensible eldest child, Jane who harbours dreams of attending ballet school, rash and mischievous Ginnie who is desperate to find her role in the family (I must admit to having a soft spot for her.  She's a feisty, determined madam) and baby of the family Angus, who collects all manner of bugs in his quest to start his own zoo.  Then there is Esau the dog, who the Bell's are convinced is the most beautiful dog in Britain.  Mrs Gage, the housekeeper, has oodles of compassion and is a lovable addition to the character list.   

 

The relationships between the children are a heart warming reminder that being part of a family unit involves hard work and compromise, emphasised by the teamwork ethic which is a running theme throughout the book. 

 

As with any text of this age (it is 60 years this year since The Bell Family was first published) it contains words that are no longer in common usage.  However, there is a useful glossary in the extra features, alongside detailed author facts, information about life in the 1950s and a quiz to find out which Bell child you most closely resemble.  There are also beautiful line drawing illustrations by Shirley Hughes OBE, drawn in 1954, which compliment the story perfectly.

 

I can't say how much I enjoyed this book which reflected on an era so different to the consumerist society we currently live in.  It has similarities to classics such as The Railway Children, and I think The Bell Family deserves the same level of acclaim- it has been overlooked for far too long. I'm going to keep my copy, something I rarely do these days, because I know I will read it again in the future

 

Vintage Classics has a diverse range of titles, and the quality of the books is second to none.  They are good value for money and have modern covers to appeal to a young audience.  The hardest part is choosing which of these timeless children's books to read next-although I must admit I'm very tempted by Emil and the Detectives.

 

The Bell Family is out now published by Vintage Classics, an imprint of Random House.

 

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

The Vintage Summer Wedding- Jenny Oliver

 

The sun is shining and the flowers are blooming- it must be wedding season!  Jenny Oliver has capitalised on the summer loving in her latest offering The Vintage Summer Wedding, with a title and cover which is bound to appeal to brides, bridesmaids and hopeless romantics everywhere. 

Anna is at her lowest ebb.  After losing her job, her money and her self esteem, she reluctantly moves back to her hometown with her fiancé.  Former dancer Anna begrudgingly finds herself becoming involved with the children in the community, helping them choreograph a routine for a nationwide talent show.  Slowly Anna realises that happiness is what counts in life rather than material goods.

I found this book difficult to get into- Anna irritated me with her brattish attitude and superiority, which I suppose is the point, but I found her annoying as a character .  Admittedly, as she developed I liked her more, yet I didn't warm to her in the way I did to Rachel in Jenny Oliver's previous novella The Parisian Christmas Bake Off (see my review here).  Being totally truthful, I couldn't have cared less if Anna got her happy ending or not until about two thirds of the way into the story.

It probably didn't help that I'd expected a different plot- more about wedding planning, choosing bouquets, bridezilla moments- whereas actually The Vintage Summer Wedding places more emphasis on community and village living than on impending nuptials.  It didn't bother me as I liked the small-town sniping, but I imagine there will be other people out there who will get a different plot than they imagined.

I liked the morals of the story- appreciating the small things, that pleasure can come in unexpected ways, the importance of community- Jenny Oliver writes contemporary women's fiction which leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.  I was glad I persevered with this one, it definitely became more engaging as the book progressed.

The Vintage Summer Wedding is out now, published by Carina.

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in return for my honest opinion.

Being Binky- Binky Felstead

I make no bones about the fact that I love a bit of reality TV, and Made in Chelsea is possibly my favourite of all of the reality series I watch.  I like the glamour, the bitching, the fashion-plus as a bit of a London fanatic too there are regular glimpses of notable landmarks and quirky bars and cafes.  It is a far cry from life in South Yorkshire working as a dinner lady.

Binky has always been my favourite female cast member.  She seems a bit more down to earth than some of the other girls and is one of those irritating people who always appears effortlessly gorgeous.  I have a bit of a crush on her.  And I want her hair.  So when I saw she had a book out I was full of excitement.

Unfortunately, I wasn't blown away by Being Binky.  I was interested in her childhood, her experience of being bullied at school and how she came to be part of Made in Chelsea, but felt there was little in the way of juicy gossip or meaty revelations.  The book mostly covers her time up to starting on Made in Chelsea, whereas it would probably work better if it was based more around the relationships between cast members, her honest opinions on key moments in the series and how her life has changed.

There are lists of 'top tips' for things like 'how to apply fake tan' and 'how to date a Chelsea boy' which are really not relevant to me.  This is definitely aimed at the younger market, I would say 16-18s.  The pictures of Binky growing up will give any girl hope- puberty served her well- and I was amazed at how her Mum hasn't aged at all!

Overall, I was disappointed.  I love Binky and thought there was so much potential, but this book fell a bit flat for me.  It would have been better being marketed as a teen book, as a quick look on Amazon shows that other older fans of the show have had similar thoughts to me.  I can imagine younger readers will enjoy it as an easy read and find the lists fun, but for me it could have been so much more.

Being Binky is out now, published by Simon and Schuster.

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The Gaffer: The Trials and Tribulations of a Football Manager- Neil Warnock

 

Neil Warnock is known as one of the most controversial figures in football.  He speaks before thinking, regularly slams referees and their assistants and has strong opinions on everything football related.  However, after the length of time he has had in the game (as a player, manager, pundit and newspaper columnist), he certainly has a few tales to tell.

 

The Gaffer focuses predominantly on Warnock's time as manager of QPR-and it is certainly eventful.  It proves that although the manager is the figurehead of a club, the power lies beyond that with chairmen, investors and board members.  Players and agents hold more sway than ever before.  Football management is evolving along with the rest of the football world and those like Warnock who have been around for a long time have had to adapt to keep up with the younger managers.

 

The Gaffer showcases all aspects of life in management- the long hours, the time away from family, the difficult decisions, the frustrations of trying to please players, agents, fans...it is an honest, no holds barred account.  It was interesting to find out more about his experience managing 'difficult characters' such as Diouf and Barton.

 

However, I found there were points where I skim-read, where I felt Warnock was covering the same ground repetitively.  It wasn't that it was bad, I just didn't find it wholly engaging.  Perhaps now is the time to say that I am a Sheffield United fan, so Neil Warnock has played an important part in my life as a supporter.  Some of my favourite days watching the Blades had him standing on the sidelines ranting and raving, yelling abuse at linesmen or making cringeworthy comments on the local radio.  I met him numerous times and he was always friendly, down to earth and approachable.  I found his previous book Made in Sheffield a fascinating read.  So I feel a bit bad saying that this was just 'alright'.  Maybe QPR fans will find this an insightful record of successful yet irregular time in their history and enjoy it more than I did.

 

It is a readable account, making no bones about the challenges faced in modern management, yet for me it was lacking the dry, northern humour which I associate with Warnock.  I'd say this is one for the hardcore football fans or those interested in how a football club operates rather than someone looking for an autobiography of a manager.

 

The Gaffer is out now, published by Headline.

 

With thanks to Headline and Bookbridgr for providing me with a copy in return for my honest opinions. 

The Boy in the Book- Nathan Penlington

Nathan Penlington was an avid reader of the Choose Your Own Adventure books as a child.  When he spots a job lot of 106 of the titles on ebay, he can't resist buying them.  Yet Nathan gets more than he bargained for.  Within the books he finds pages of a diary belonging to a child called Terence Prendergast.  Nathan feels a connection to Terence and becomes desperate to contact him and find out how the angst ridden teen turned out.  The Boy in the Book chronicles this search.

I was attracted to this book mainly because of the nostalgic element- I remember loving Choose Your Own Adventure books as a child and thought this would be an interesting look at this revolutionary genre through the eyes of a fan. 

How wrong was I?  The Boy in the Book is so much more than that.  It is a quest, a story of determination and perseverance.  It explores the obsessive nature of humanity.  It is empathetic, warm and honest.  And most of all it is entertaining.  Nathan's search for Terence Prendergast is an epic journey full of charm and wit, and is an engaging and accessible non-fiction read.  I especially liked how it explores the transition from childhood to adulthood, how things can be easily misinterpreted and that friendships can form in the most unusual of circumstances.

This one will appeal to fans of Danny Wallace and Dave Gorman.

The Boy in the Book is out now.

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

New romance from Harper Impulse

I really love Harper Impulse.  They publish a diverse cross section of romantic books, from historical to contemporary, from short stories to full length.  If you love a love story there will be something out there to float your boat.  Here are some of their latest release- I can't wait to get stuck in!

Sarah, I’m not coming home tonight.
If you love me, you will give me the space I need…
Tell the children I love them.
Paul
It started out like any other day for Sarah Lawler; getting the kids ready for school, making the pack lunches and juggling baby Ella’s feeds.

There was no way of knowing that her husband, Paul, would leave for work that morning and simply not come home.

Now the questions are piling up quicker than the unpaid bills and, unable to answer her children’s questions about where their Daddy is, Sarah is getting desperate.

But it turns out she isn’t quite as alone as she thought she was. When her beloved childhood friend, Edward, comes back into her life, Sarah thinks she’s finally been thrown a life line.

There’s just one problem with Edward: no one else can see him.

Edward is an angel. And he has a message for Sarah that will change her life and the lives of others forever. For it is only in the most difficult of times that Sarah can discover how strong
she truly is.

Set in a small coastal village on the beautiful Irish coast, The Life You Left is a story of redemption and the strength of love.

Find out more by clicking below...

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This summer, it’s time to play dirty…
Amber Sullivan is an ambitious, beautiful and feisty Sports reporter for a local TV news programme. With an ex-professional soccer player for a father, she’s grown up in and around the world of premiership football, and boy does she know better than to get mixed up with the men who play the game. As rich and charming as they are, Amber has a strict no player rule.

One of the biggest names in football, Ryan Fisher is young, hot, and talented. He has it all – looks, fame, money; not to mention women falling at his over-insured feet and a lifestyle he’s in no hurry to give up.

At the centre of a multi-million-pound transfer deal back to his home club, Ryan’s a big scoop for a local sports journalist and Amber can’t afford to miss this career-making opportunity – even if that means having to interview the cocky sports star.

But once the tape starts rolling it’s clear Ryan’s got more than just an exclusive on his mind… and he’s used to getting exactly what he wants.

Delving into the lives of those who live and work within the so-called Beautiful Game, ‘Striker’ is a story of sex, secrets and the true cost of fame.

Footballer’s Wives meets Jackie Collins in this sizzling scorcher of a summer read!

Find out more by clicking below.

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Veronica Summer is stuck in the dream job from hell.
The spunky New York reporter is offered the network’s morning anchor position, but she doesn’t want it because she’s a night person. Then the network plays a trump card, promising her the evening anchor chair in three years. So the fiery redhead takes the plunge, with the ultimate gig waiting down the road.
Problem is, that road is filled with two am wake-up calls and the only social life she has is one with bats and raccoons. She quickly realizes she’ll never survive the grind and decides the only way out is to get fired by being her snarky self on live television.
And the ratings skyrocket.
Veronica becomes the nation’s It Girl, so the network makes her a celebrity contestant on its most popular nighttime dance competition show, Dance Off. While her journalistic credibility is shot to hell by the show’s skimpy costumes, she’s thrown into close contact with two incredibly attractive men; her dance partner and the show’s sarcastic British judge.
And she soon discovers that love is the ultimate gig.

Find out more by clicking below.

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Betrayed by her boyfriend and best friend, Lena is left empty; trapped under a weight of guilt and loneliness. Then, at her lowest point and when she needs it most, a mysterious stranger comes into her life with a tale of friendship, family, and finding love in the most unexpected of places…
Katy Heath is definitely not thinking of love when she comes across consultant, Adam Elliot, berating some poor patient on the ward one day. In fact it is Dr Peter Florin who quickly has everyone’s hearts aflutter with his easy smiles and practised charm.
Yet Katy comes to realise that there’s more to Adam than his determination to push everyone away and it’s not long before she finds herself longing to reach out to touch the man within, healing the pain of his past.
As Lena is drawn into Katy’s story, she begins to learn – just as Katy does- that the course of true love never did run smooth.

Find out more by clicking below.


The Second Time I Saw You- Pippa Croft

The Blurb
Lauren and Alexander's journey continues in the second novel in Pippa Croft's Oxford Blue romance series.

It's the beginning of a new term at Wyckham College, Oxford, and a fresh start for Lauren Cusack. Her fingers were badly burnt when a whirlwind romance with gorgeous English aristocrat, Alexander Hunt, became too hot to handle - and now she's determined to keep her distance.

Her resolve is shaken when Alexander appears on her doorstep - he's been completely torn apart by some devastating news. Lauren knows that she should stay away, but their chemistry is undeniable and she soon finds herself back in Alexander's arms.

Can Lauren handle the drama that comes with Alexander Hunt? Or will she have to sacrifice the most exhilarating passion she's ever known . . .

Fans of E L James, Tammara Webber and Beth Kery won't be able to get enough of Pippa Croft's Oxford Blue romance series. The First Time We Met and The Second Time I Saw You are the first two novels in the series, followed by Third Time Lucky, which is also available to pre-order from Penguin.

Pippa Croft is the pen name of an award-winning romantic novelist. After studying English at Oxford, she worked as a copywriter and journalist before writing her debut novel, which won the RNA's New Writers' award and was later made into a TV movie. She lives in a village in the heart of England with her husband and daughter.

The Review
It is really rare that I read books in a series back to back regardless of how much I love them, but I couldn't help myself when it came to Pippa Croft's Oxford Blue series.  I loved the balance of out and out drama and tantalising raunch in The First Time We Met (you can read my review here ) and showed no restraint-I just had to read The Second Time I Saw You right away.

We're taken back to Oxford for Lauren's second term of university.  This book delves deeper than The First Time We Met- probably because we are already familiar with the characters.  However, life has irrevocably changed for Alexander, and although are plenty titillating sex scenes for the fans of erotica there is also a strong story running through the book. 

Without giving too much away we find out more about Alexander's younger sister (who pushes boundaries in the way teenagers are wont) and life at Falconbury, and I loved this.  It felt like the series had moved on yet still had all the familiar elements that I loved about the first book.  There are secrets and lies throughout and as the story unfolds the links between the characters are more apparent.  It seemed that the characters all had to grow up quickly because of events in this book, and I enjoyed finding out more about Lauren's compassionate side.

I'm not going to lie, the ending almost killed me.  It is a complete cliffhanger which had me screaming 'NOOOOOOOOOOOOO' at the thought that I'll have to wait for the final instalment of Oxford Blue.

It's fair to say that I'm a fan.  Hurry up with part three Pippa, we're all waiting!

The Second Time I Saw You is out now, published by Penguin.

With thanks to Penguin for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.